Main Office: 802-775-2381              24/7 Crisis Hotline: 802-775-1000            24/7 Crisis Text Line: 802-214-2553 

Employment & Transition Services

Developmental Services

College Steps

College Steps is an independent non-profit organization that provides individualized supports for students living with social, communication, or learning challenges to experience college coursework and campus activities. This program is offered in collaboration with Castleton University, and helps prepare students for meaningful careers and increased autonomy after graduation.  Developmental Services partners with College Steps to support these transition-age youth as they integrate into post-secondary coursework and a college campus experience.

Financial Support for College Steps:
The support services in this program are funded by Home and Community Based Services, but may not be used to pay tuition. HCBS funds pay for support services only and may not be used to pay college tuition.

College Steps eligibility/access criteria:

  • Clinical: Individuals who meet the Vermont Criteria for Developmental Disabilities.
  • Financial: Vermont Medicaid eligible as determined by DVHA.
  • Access criteria: Adults who have graduate from high school or have a GED who have been accepted for enrollment in the College Steps program.  The individual must also have access to resources that are needed to participate beyond what is provided by the PSEI program.

Project SEARCH

An international workplace immersion program for students with developmental disabilities who are in their final year of high school and adults age 21-28 if space allows.

Rutland Regional Medical Center, the local Vocational Rehabilitation office, and Community Care Network have formed a very successful collaborative that supports students in various internships.

Interns gain valuable workplace skills that help them obtain better employment opportunities upon graduation and lead to greater levels of independence at their jobs.